Effect of dexamethasone on amniotic fluid absorbance in Rh-sensitized pregnancy.
Five Rh-sensitized pregnant women between 23 and 30 weeks gestation, with a poor obstetric history and initially high delta A450 values, were treated with weekly doses of 24 mg of dexamethasone over a period of 2-7 weeks to enhance fetal lung maturation. Four women showed a gradual decline in delta A450 during the treatment. All five deliveries were delayed until fetal lung maturity was confirmed by amniotic fluid lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and all five fetuses survived. It is possible that high doses of dexamethasone delayed the anticipated intrauterine deterioration of the fetuses and may have prevented the need for intrauterine transfusions.
D000042:Absorption; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System
D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D003907:Dexamethasone